Linerless pressure-sensitive labels



April 4 1967 J. F. MoELRoY 3,312,005

LINERLESS PRES SURE-SENSITIVE LABELS Filed 0G12. 4, 1962 www ATT'VS United States Patent Otiice 3,312,005 Patented Apr. 4, 1967 Labels coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive are ordinarily provided with release sheets to protect the adhesive until the labels are used, [at which time the sheets are peeled oif to uncover the adhesive.

Objects of the present invention are to eliminate the release sheets, to reduce the cost of pressure-sensitive labels, and to provide strips of labels from which individual labels may be detached easily and quickly.

According to this invention the labels are disposed back to back fand joined together with pressure-sensitive adhesive some of which adheres to each label when the labels are peeled apart. In one embodiment one label has a release coating in spaced zones and the other label has `a release coating in intermediate Zones so that, when the labels are peeled apart, the adhesive remains on one label in the spaced zones and on the other label in the intermediate zones. In another embodiment each label is coated with a different pressure-sensitive adhesive, the two coatings being incompatible so that they can be peeled apart.

In a more specific aspect the invention comprises a series of labels disposed back to back in two rows, the labels of the two rows being joined together with pressuresensitive adhesive some of which adheres to each label when the labels of the two rows are peeled apart, and the labels of each row being staggered lengthwise of the strip relatively to the labels of the other row so that a part of the label at the end of one row projects beyond the label at the corresponding end of the other row, whereby the projecting end of each label may be grasped to peel it from the next succeeding label of the other row.

For the purpose of illustration typical embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an edge view of the same embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a section on lines 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a similar section of another embodiment.

The particular embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. l to 3 comprises two rows of labels 1 and 2 joined back to back with pressure-sensitive adhesive 3. Before the adhesive is applied the labels are coated along spaced zones with strips 4 and 5 of release material, the strips 4 on the row 1 being staggered relatively to the strips 5 on the row 2. Thus when the rows are peeled apart strips of adhesive remain on the row 1 between the zones 4 and alternate zones of adhesive remain on row 2 intermediate the zones 5. Any suitable release material may be employed such as ordinary silicone release material.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 in that two rows of labels 1 and 2 are enjoined together back to back in staggered relationship by pressure-sensitive adhesive. However instead of applying 'alternate strips of release material to the respective rows, each row is coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive, the two coatings being incompatible so that they can be peeled apart. While there are many pressuresensitive adhesives which are incompatible, the following is a typical example of two such coatings.

Coating 6 Parts Rubbery polyisobutylene (such as Vistanex B 120) 100 Low molecular weight tacky polyisobutylene (such as Vistac A 70 Pure hydrocarbon terpene tackier yresin (such as Piccolyte S 45 Rosin ester tackier resin (such as Hercolyn) 30 Di-tert.-amyl hydroquinone (antioxidant) (such as Santovar A) 1.1

Coating 7 Copolymer of isoamyl acrylate Acrylic acid 10 With the aforesaid coating 6 the coating 7 may comprise methyl isoamyl acrylate polymer or copolymer of fusel oil acrylate `and methyl isoamyl acrylate (50:50) or polyvinyl ethyl ether or a mixture of i60 parts of polypropylene glycol and parts of polyacrylic acid. Another example consists of copolymer of fusel oil acrylate and methyl isoamyl acrylate (50:50) for one coating and copolymer of fusel oil acrylate and acrylic acid (90:10) for the other coating.

It will be understood that the aforesaid parts are by weight and each coating 6 and of adhesive is dried before the two rows of labels are joined together. In the preferred method of manufacture the two rows of labels are joined together back to back as continuous strips after which each strip is separately die cut to form individual labels.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications .and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A label strip comprising a series of labels disposed back to back in two rows, the labels of the two rows being joined together with pressure-sensitive adhesive some of which adheres to each label when the labels of the two rows are peeled apart, and the labels ot each row being staggered lengthwise of the strip relatively to the labels of the other row so that a part of the label at the end of one row projects beyond the label at the corresponding end of the other row, whereby the projecting end of each label may be grasped to peel it from the next succeeding label of the other row.

2. A label strip comprising a series of labels disposed back to back in two rows, the labels of the two rows being joined together with a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive, the labels of each row being staggered lengthwise of the strip relatively to the labels of the other row so that a part of the label at the end of one row projects beyond the label at the corresponding end of the other row so that the projecting end 0f each label may be grasped to peel it from the next succeeding label of the other row, said layer adhering to one row of labels in spaced zones and adhering to the other row in intermediate zones so that, when the rows are peeled apart, the adhesive remains on one row in spaced zones and on the other row in said intermediate zones.

3. A label strip comprising a series of labels disposed back to back in two rows, the labels of the two rows being joined together with a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive, the labels of each row being staggered lengthwise of the strip relatively to the labels of the other row so that a part of the label at the end of one row projects beyond the label at the corresponding end of the other row so that the projecting end of each label may be grasped to peel it from the next succeeding label of the other row, one of said rows of labels having a release coating in spaced zones and the other row having a release coating in intermediate zones so that, when the rows are peeled apart, the adhesive remains on one row in said spaced zones and on the other row in said intermediate zones.

4. A label strip comprising a series of labels disposed back to back in two rows, the labels of the two rows being joined together with a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive, said layer adhering to one row of labels in spaced zones and adhering to the other row in intermediate zones so that, when the rows are peeled apart, the adhesive remains on one row in said spaced zones .and on the other row in said intermediate zones.

' 5. A label strip comprising a series of labels disposed back to back in two rows, the labels of the two rows being joined together with a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive, one of said rows of labels having a release coating in spaced zones and the other row having a release coating in intermediate zones so that, when the rows are peeled apart, the adhesive remains on one row in said spaced zones and on the other row in said intermediate zones.

6. An article comprising labels disposed back to back and joined together with a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive, said layer adhering to one label in spaced zones and adhering to the other label in intermediate zones so that, when the labels are peeled apart, the adhesive remains on one label in said spaced zones and on the other label in said intermediate zones.

7. An article comprising labels disposed back to back and joined together with a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive, one label having a release coating in spaced zones and the other label having a release coating in intermediate zones so that, when the labels are peeled apart, the adhesive remains on one label in said spaced zones and on the other label in said intermediate zones.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,990,701 2/1935 Knight ll-406 2,300,488 ll/l942 Cuno.

2,304,787 12/ 1942 Avery 161--406 2,565,509 8/1951 Marein 206-59 2,880,862 4/1959 Sermattei 206--59 ALEXANDER WYMAN, Primary Examiner.

EARL M. BERGERT, Examiner.

R. l. ROCHE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A LABEL STRIP COMPRISING A SERIES OF LABELS DISPOSED BACK TO BACK IN TWO ROWS, THE LABELS OF THE TWO ROWS BEING JOINED TOGETHER WITH PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE SOME OF WHICH ADHERES TO EACH LABEL WHEN THE LABELS OF THE TWO ROWS ARE PEELED APART, AND THE LABELS OF EACH ROW BEING STAGGERED LENGTHWISE OF THE STRIP RELATIVELY TO THE LABELS OF THE OTHER ROW SO THAT A PART OF THE LABEL AT THE END OF ONE ROW PROJECTS BEYOND THE LABEL AT THE CORRESPONDING END OF THE OTHER ROW, WHEREBY THE PROJECTING END OF EACH LABEL MAY BE GRASPED TO PEEL IT FROM THE NEXT SUCCEEDING LABEL OF THE OTHER ROW. 